Sociology ETDs

Publication Date

3-8-1972

Abstract

The mid-twentieth century experienced need a rapid development of vaccines, antibiotic drug and pesticides to control disease-bearing insects. This technology, which was developed in the high income countries, has been imported to the low income countries, and this has resulted in decline of mortality. Since fertility has not declined, the low income countries are at a period of rapid population growth. This accelerating population increase in recent years in the low income countries had dramatized the need for a better understanding of it impact on social and economic development. The economic development in any given country is a process which involves changes in most aspects of economic and social life. There are many indicators of such a process, but the trend of per capita real income is regarded as the most significant. The changes of per capita income are correlated with other change in the social and economic life in a particular country. The direction of the change may be regarded as an indicator of the extent to which a country is becoming better or worse off. For the purpose of this paper, then, it is assumed that economic development is reflected in an increase of per capita real income. It is further assumed that the relationship between population growth and economic development is reflected in the relationship between the annual rate of population growth and the annual rate of increase in per capita income. By comparing the population and income growth trends and other demographic characteristics in India (a low income country) and Japan, (a high income country), the present paper seeks to make a generalization about the influence of population growth on the economic development in the low income countries. This paper supports the view that rapid population growth exerts retarding effects on economic development in the low income countries.

Degree Name

Sociology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Sociology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Harold Gilman McCann III

Second Committee Member

Gilbert Wilson Merks

Third Committee Member

Joseph J. Fashing

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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